Digital Commons Network^™

Hi-Trac Camera Jig, Gabriel Frank Junge, Josh Sherreitt, Jake Weiser, Luke Silver

Mechanical Engineering

Uranium fuel assemblies are stored upright in an underwater container inside the spent nuclear energy fuel pool at Diablo Canyon. The engineers and in-service-inspection team all work together to safely locate this container inside the pool on pins so it is guaranteed safe before they begin loading it with spent uranium fuel rods. The Operators currently employ the use of a zip-tied camera jig that is lowered into the pool along with the tank (called a HI-TRAC) to ensure it is oriented correctly in the pool. This camera jig is in desperate need of re-vamping and re-designing to optimize efficiency …

Expeditionary Ocean Power Generator, Otto Jacob Van Willigen, David Scott Nyberg, Logan Christopher Schilling, Kyle James Hohman, Travis Michael Eccher

Mechanical Engineering

The Expeditionary Ocean Power Generator (ExOPG) project is a point absorber wave energy converter developed by a team of five mechanical engineering seniors at California Polytechnic State University in partnership with NAVFAC EXWC. Designed to support U.S. Marine Corps operations, the device aims to reduce the reliance on diesel generators by generating and storing up to 100 watts of power from ocean waves in a sturdy and self-sufficient device.

The ExOPG device uses a rack and pinion mechanism driven by vertical wave motion to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy via a generator, which is then processed and stored by …

Evaluation Of Damages And Economic Losses In Light-Frame Timber Houses, Mason P. Leonard

Master's Theses

This thesis aims to evaluate the damages and economic losses in light-frame timber houses by designing and constructing a two-story, full-scale, fully equipped, code conforming timber assembly. Specifically, the structure will be analyzed based on how the non-structural components (NSC) like gypsum wallboard, interior doors, windows, and sliding patio doors as well as structural components like light-frame timber shear walls impact the economic losses.

Damage limit states were obtained from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) P-58, Performance Assessment of Buildings to extract at what inter-story drift (ISD) ratio each damage limit state was expected to occur at. Fragility and …

Single-Sideband Pulse Width Modulation For Parametric Acoustic Arrays, Douglas Liu

Master's Theses

Parametric acoustic arrays are directional loudspeakers that operate using ultrasonic carriers to project sound within a narrow beam. Input audio is first modulated onto an ultrasonic carrier and transmitted through air, where it self-demodulates into audible frequencies in the far field.

This thesis introduces a method for preprocessing audio into scaled quadrature signals using a passive analog polyphase filter. These signals are modulated using microcontroller-generated waveforms to create quadrature ultrasonic pulse-width modulation (PWM) signals. The modulated outputs are combined through a wired-OR summer, producing single-sideband ultrasonic content at the desired frequency of 40 kHz. This signal is amplified through high-efficiency …

Design Principles For Robotic-Controlled 3d Printing Of Soft Tissue-Mimicking Materials, Karina Mealey

Master's Theses

Geometrically and physically accurate 3D models are emerging as essential tools for surgeons in pre-operative planning and training, but current methods of producing these models are not sufficient. Existing solutions have downsides such as high costs, long and tedious production times, high complexity resulting in a lack of scalability, or an inability to meet material requirements for accurately simulating human tissue.

The objective of this work is to develop principles for a low-cost, easy-to-use 3D printing system capable of prototyping with soft tissue-mimicking materials. To pursue this goal, a MyCobot280 robot arm was used as the mechanism to explore the …

The Application Of Lidar For Classifying Wildland Fuels, Madison Muschetto

Master's Theses

Accurate vegetation classification is critical for modeling wildfire behavior, particularly in fire-prone ecosystems where fuel type influences fire spread and intensity. This study evaluates the effectiveness of UAV-based aerial LiDAR, supplemented by multispectral imagery, for classifying grass, shrub, and tree vegetation types across a grass-dominated landscape. Using canopy height thresholds, vertical profile analysis, LiDAR predictions were compared against field-verified vegetation observations at 80 survey points. Results showed that LiDAR classified grass with high accuracy but was less reliable for detecting shrubs and trees, especially under canopy cover. Misclassifications were most common beneath tree canopies and in areas where low-stature shrubs …

Machine-Checked Proofs For Correctness Guarantees In Containment Architectures, Sophie Russ

Master's Theses

Modern computing systems are increasingly susceptible to attacks at the hardware and software levels. Formal methods offer promising guarantees as to the correctness and security of systems. However, these methods tend to scale poorly and are thus insufficient to protect complex systems. Leveraging minimal amounts of trusted hardware and software to ensure the security of whole systems is a promising approach to gain the benefits of formal methods without having to overcome the scaling problem. TrustGuard realizes this approach: a containment architecture model that requires all outgoing communication from the host computer to be validated by a small, external hardware …

Topodino: Self-Supervised Topological Representation Learning For Neuronal Morphologies, Yasser Binbisher

Master's Theses

Neuronal cell types are categorized by transcriptomic identity, yet their morphological heterogeneity defies this classification. In response, researchers have adopted unsupervised graph representation learning as a tool to reveal morphological variation within single-class transcriptomic types. However, the complex geometry of neuronal morphology—especially long axons and dense dendrites—challenges graph neural networks, which struggle with message propagation across extended structures. To mitigate this, current approaches enforce sub-sampling on neuronal graphs and omit axons entirely, sacrificing critical biological features for computational efficiency. To overcome this trade-off, this thesis introduces TopoDINO, a self-supervised, topology-aware representation learning model designed to preserve the full hierarchical organization …

Characterization Of Indoor Air Quality And Thermal Comfort Of University Classrooms, Andrew Sugamele

Master's Theses

Indoor air quality (IAQ) significantly affects cognitive performance, yet many older buildings at Cal Poly, such as Building 20, struggle to maintain healthy indoor environments due to outdated ventilation systems. This thesis aims to identify issues and provide suggestions on how we can improve the learning environment to improve student success within Building 20. Temperature, relative humidity, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration inside Building 20 were measured from January to April 2025. To determine the effects of different ventilation strategies, a model of Building 20, room 128, was developed and validated using DesignBuilder. Additionally, ventilation rates were measured …

Exploiting Compiler-Introduced Vulnerabilities In C: A Cross-Compiler And Cross-Architecture Analysis Of Undefined Behavior, Erik Mccutchen

Master's Theses

Compilers are a critical component in generating secure software across engineering disciplines. However, languages like C that permit undefined behavior introduce a fundamental tension between the compiler’s interpretation of undefined behavior and the security of the generated code. This tension can result in security vulnerabilities that, from the programmer's perspective, are ``created'' by the compiler. The widespread use of these languages, combined with the complexity of modern optimizations and limited developer visibility into compiler behavior, makes these vulnerabilities both pervasive and difficult to detect.

Building on prior work, this thesis refines a dataset of C code snippets that exhibit Compiler-Introduced …

"The Effect Of Methylobacterium Symbioticum On The Growth And Yield Of Dent Corn And Romaine Lettuce", Sinead Carney

Master's Theses

Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for plant growth and is often a limiting nutrient in cropping systems. An estimated half of applied N fertilizers are lost from cropping systems by processes that can be environmentally destructive, such as leaching and volatilization, and cause economic loss for growers. Effective N biofertilizers offer a means to mitigate the need for high inputs of synthetic N. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of leaf inoculation with the N-fixing bacteria, Methylobacterium symbioticum, in combination with different rates of urea-N fertilizer on the physiology and yield of dent corn …

From Tree To Shrub? The Fate Of Tanoak Through Fire And Nonnative Disease, Jacqueline Rose

Master's Theses

Invasive plant pathogens have killed an uncountable number of trees and disrupted ecosystem processes throughout the world. Newly introduced pathogens may interact with historically occurring disturbances in unexpected ways to cause amplified mortality and change to ecosystem processes. Here, I examine the a natural experiment created by three wildfires in Big Sur, a portion of the central coast of California impacted by the nonnative pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, to forecast the future of a species susceptible to the pathogen. Using a plot network which spans the length of Big Sur, I track the survival of individual tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) stems and …

Design, Analysis, And Implementation Of An Improved Zero Voltage Switching Hybrid Voltage Divider, Luke V. Cerda

Master's Theses

This thesis entails the study, design, and construction of a novel DC-DC converter topology, the Zero Voltage Switching Hybrid Voltage Divider (ZVS-HVD), with improved modularization, optimization, and compactness. The ZVS-HVD facilitates higher load currents and accomplishes DC-DC voltage division through switching inductors and capacitors. Low switching loss is achieved through zero voltage switching (ZVS) and the use of GANFET switches. An analysis of duty cycle and high-frequency operation is conducted, enabling 1 MHz switching and improvements in output voltage ripple, voltage drooping, board size, and efficiency at higher load currents. Two versions of ZVS-HVD prototypes were constructed with on-board signal …

Frequent Itemset Mining With Tidyclust In R, Andrew D. Kerr

Master's Theses

Unsupervised learning is closely associated with clustering, however other methods fall under this umbrella such as data mining. In R, the tidyclust package provides a unified interface for clustering models, yet lacks support for data mining. This thesis addresses this gap by introducing the Apriori and ECLAT algorithms into tidyclust, with a focus on frequent itemset mining. Unlike traditional clustering models, frequent itemsets produce groupings of column variables, rather than cluster labels or partitions of observations. To address this, a novel clustering approach is proposed: items (columns) are grouped based on their ”dominant” frequent itemset. A key contribution is a …

Stability Insights From Modeling Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, Giovani Thai

Master's Theses

This thesis centers around a model for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) as it behaves under imatinib treatment, a common medication for CML patients, and the anti-leukemia immune response. The dynamics are represented with a system of nonlinear delay-differential equations first constructed by Kim et al. in 2008, capturing population changes of T-cells and various CML growth stages. We investigate stability in both the clinical and mathematical sense. Through numerical simulations, we computationally incorporate a supplementary treatment plan to determine its effectiveness in aiding immune response and medication in achieving remission and full elimination. The primary goal is to conduct a …

Srh Lab Case Study: Ia, Mental Models, And Website Labels, Trista Wang

Graphic Communication

This paper discusses the results of a research study investigating Cal Poly students’ mental models regarding the Sexual and Reproductive Health Lab’s (SRH Lab) website. Mental models are beliefs that the user has about a website and how it functions, which affects how users interact with the website (Chan 2024). By tailoring its website to students’ mental models through appropriate nomenclature, the SRH Lab will be able to better engage and disseminate information to students.

52 students participated in a card sorting study, in which they were asked to intuitively sort cards labeled with SRH Lab website labels into different …

Floating Wind Turbine Foundation, Clayton Lahodny, Dillon Nelson, Trevor Ortega, Andrew Cervantes

Mechanical Engineering

The 2024 Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC) has introduced a new element to their Turbine Design Competition: a floating foundation. In previous years, foundations have been fixed-bottom in a box of sand and water. The Cal Poly Wind Power Club, who competes in the CWC every year, requires a floating foundation to be designed, manufactured, and tested to assist in winning the competition. The foundation is a large, hollow, cylindrical barge with a hanging spar (heavy mass). The barge will provide a restoring moment using buoyancy, and the heavy spar provides additional restoring moment. Four cables will be attached at the …

Hydropower Collegiate Competition, Aiden D. Foster, Devon Bountry, Joanna Vo, Timothy Rinker, Amanda Rodriguez, Minh Nguyen, Eli Haushalter, Sophie Watkinson, Maiya Holton, Breanne Evans

Mechanical Engineering

The Cal Poly SLO HCC team presents a feasibility study and engineering design review package for retrofitting the non-powered Ritschard Dam in Colorado into a hydroelectric facility as part of the 2025 Hydropower Collegiate Competition. Through a rigorous and multi-staged assessment of plausible dam sites in the western US, the team has chosen the Ritschard Dam in Colorado to implement an electromechanical component designed to accommodate a large range of flowrates stemming from a large variance in upper reservoir capacity due to geographical and climate effects. The team evaluated non-powered dams based on technical feasibility, electric grid proximity, power generation …

Structural Color Pigments For Waterborne Coatings, Kyle William Liston

Master's Theses

Structural colors offer unique alternatives to conventional pigments, utilizing their microstructures to produce vibrant colors. These pigments offer an alternative source for colorants without the need for less environmentally friendly conventional pigments. In keeping with the sustainability approach, the use of waterborne coatings was chosen over solvent-based coatings. Here we report the synthesis of brushite platelet, silica supraball, and inverse opal pigments. Brushite platelets were produced through a condensation reaction, while silica supraballs were synthesized via the Stöber process and assembly was attempted using an oil-in-water emulsion. Inverse opal was produced through the templating of silica on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) …

Functionalization Of A Calcium-Based Squaric Acid Metal Organic Frameworks With Amine-Based Polymers For Enhancing Post Combustion Carbon Capture, Corinne D. Watson

Master's Theses

The primary driver of climate change is the release of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from fossil fuel combustion. Global climate change has resulted in sea level rise, adverse weather patterns, and countless other negative global effects. Several carbon-reduction frameworks emphasize the transition to clean energy sources; however, other strategies must be concurrently pursued to immediately and effectively reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide point source emissions. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are a promising new technology for post-combustion carbon dioxide capture. The materials are synthesized using organic linker molecules and metal ion joints. Notably, there are several challenges with various types of …

Tanzania Mbesese Initiative 2025, Genevieve Marie Tedder, Frances Street, Audrey Wojcik, Alex Trujillo, Tristen Mullin, Jessica Jane, Anna Marie Langer, Carissa Castro, Molly Linong Rojec, Haley Pilcher

Architectural Engineering

The Tanzania Mbesese Initiative is an ongoing project based in Same, Tanzania. The Mbesese Initiative for Sustainable Design (MISD) is working in collaboration with ARUP and Cal Poly to develop a polytechnic college for the community in Same. Our team of ten students aims to support the design and construction process of the project.

Outdoor Exercise Area Renovation, Hagan T. Jackson, Chet S. Crummett, Jesse E. Muth

Architectural Engineering

The Outdoor Exercise Area Renovation project revitalizes a well-used outdoor exercise area located near the baseball fields at Cal Poly. The existing exercise equipment, originally donated by Maino Construction, was weathered, but the area remained well-utilized and presented potential for revitalization. This project transforms the site into a functional and resilient space by replacing the pull-up and dip bar equipment, constructing a 300 square foot pavilion, and adding a concrete slab and integrated concrete benches. The new design enhances usability, providing a multifunctional area for the Cal Poly community to exercise, socialize, relax, and enjoy scenic views.

The renovated area …

Tettoia Iperbolica, Lydia Chou, Jack L. Walsh, William Jasper Mors, Simarjot S. Gandhoke, Ian F. Da Silva, Jamie L. Zimmerman

Architectural Engineering

Tettoia Iperbolica (Hyperbolic Canopy) is a multidisciplinary senior project created to revitalize an underutilized outdoor space next to the Architectural Engineering Building 21 at Cal Poly. The project responds to needs identified by faculty and staff, including limited gathering space, inadequate shading for the adjacent conference room, poor drainage, and a lack of ADA accessibility. Building on two previous senior project efforts, the 2025 team advanced the concept into a fully designed, structurally stamped, permitted redwood canopy supported by existing concrete columns and one new steel column.

The work included extensive site investigation to verify subsurface conditions, concrete strength testing, …

Untold Stories Bench Project, Elijah Labb

Architectural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Cementing Co2 Into C-S-H: A Step Toward Carbon Neutrality, Or A Step In The Wrong Direction?, John Reilly Benn, Tahne Larson

Architectural Engineering

As greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, many in the construction industry are looking for sustainable solutions to reduce its carbon footprint. One of the biggest contributors to atmospheric CO2 comes from cement production. In 2023, researchers at MIT explored ways to enhance concrete’s natural ability to act as a carbon sink. Concrete does this unassisted through a chemical reaction called carbonation, by which atmospheric carbon bonds to key components in cement. The researchers at MIT proposed a process of early-stage forced carbonation, which can be induced by the addition of NaHCO3 into a standard concrete mix. Sodium bicarbonate, or …

Physical Construction Of 1/2 Scale Concrete Wall, Alicia Danielle Lee, Cali Jeanne Carson

Architectural Engineering

This senior project was the physical construction and material testing of the half-scale reinforced concrete wall specimens. This included all stages of the building process, from formwork and reinforcement to concrete placement and laboratory testing.

The Xenaform, Cassadie J. Golding

Architectural Engineering

The XenaForm explores how complex, expressive structures can emerge from simple, low-tech construction methods using principles of parametric design and structural geometry. By combining folded plate techniques with modular tetrahedral components, the project bridges high-tech digital modeling and hands-on physical fabrication. The result is a lightweight, buildable system that reclaims the engineer’s role as a form-finder.

Practical Integration Of Reality Capture In Architecture, Engineering, Construction, And Operations (Aeco) Workflows: Cost And Application Considerations, Dylan T. Ramsey

Architectural Engineering

This paper explores the practical integration of Reality Capture (RC) technologies, specifically LiDAR and photogrammetry, within Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) workflows. As interest in RC grows, costs decrease, and industry applications expand, this paper aims to clarify the current landscape of research, industry practices, hardware, and software. It provides managers, RC technology enthusiasts, and AECO professionals considering its implementation with essential insights into cost considerations, expectations, and limitations. The paper details common research and industry applications, including as-built documentation, surface analysis, and deflection monitoring, and cross-references cost data and project requirements to provide informed recommendations and considerations for …

C.H.I.I.P., Continuous Health Information For Infrastructure Protection, Lariel Sasha Henley

Architectural Engineering

This paper presents the development and validation of CHIIP (Continuous Health Information for Infrastructure Protection), a wireless structural health monitoring (SHM) device designed to provide accessible, real-time data on structural performance of building structures following a seismic event. The system integrates inclinometers, accelerometers, linear potentiometers, and strain gauges with ESP32 microcontrollers to create a compact and robust data collection device that can transmit synchronized sensor data via Wi-Fi to a remote server. A web-based interface enables users to access and download live data for rapid structural evaluation. The device was tested in three phases: a small-scale wired baseline test, a …

Concrete Mix Designs With Shrinkage Reducing Admixture, Beau Usry, Julio Munoz Tanaka

Architectural Engineering

The goal of this project was to explore how shrinkage-reducing admixtures (SRAs) affect the strength and overall performance of concrete. While SRAs are typically used to help reduce shrinkage and cracking, it is less common to see how they might affect compressive strength directly. To test this, three different concrete mixes were made: a control mix with no admixture, one mix with 1% SRA, and another with 3% SRA. The idea was to compare how each mix performed under the same testing conditions.